Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
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Source: July 1941 Volume 4 Number 3, Page 74

In the days of the stage coach - 2

Page 74

This letter to Mrs. Charles A. Poulson, Jr., supplied by Howard S. Okie, her grandson, describes traveling conditions between Philadelphia and Wilkes Barre one hundred years ago. It is hoped that such publications will tempt other such letters from hiding.

Wednesday Ev. Sept. 13 43
WilkesBarre 10 p.m.

My dearest Love:

We arrived here this afternoon at 5 1/2 o'clock after a very cold and fatiguing journey of which I will proceed to give you the particulars. After leaving you I went to the Depot (Broad & Cherry) where I took my passage through to W and mounted the car thinking to be at Reading in less than no time, but I was... mistaken, - it seems that within the last week the R. r. r. Company have set themselves seriously to work to compete with the Schuylkill Nav. Company in the transportation of coal, and the consequence (to the passengers) is that the passenger train is converted into a kind of will of the wisp to dodge about among the coal cars as well as it can. - Several times we had to wait for them to come and pass us - but the amount of it is that we did not reach Port Clinton until 2 o'clock. After crossing the river in a bateau we got into a horse car of very primitive fashion and proceeded to Tamaqua which we reached at 5 1/2 o'clock, there we took the stage and reached Mauch Chunk at 9 - here I had to remain over night for it seems that they have changed the manner of progressing and instead of getting into the boat "right off" came to a standstill. I was called at 4 this morning and went on board the canal boat to White Haven which we reached at 2 p. m. after a very tiresome but beautiful ride. Here I met Spencer, and here I took a "horn" - my first - and it did me good, for I was very cold - We got into a car and started off for Wilkes Barre which we reached at half past five.

Tell Mother I don't like the route at all, and will give her my reasons. I would not bring you up by it at its present arrangement for anything. After we got safely in we took a comfortable wash and "turned over a new leaf" - after which we had tea - After tea we went into the "barroom to smoke a cigar before calling on Mrs. Jones - when who should I spy but Sam. Meredith, it seems that he and his Father had come down today - he seemed quite surprised to see me and said that they (the Jones folks) should be so too - He and Ed Rockhill rode over to the cottage yesterday afternoon and returned today. Ed. is improving rapidly - We went to Mr. Jones' and found that Mr. Jones was quite sick with the Bilious fever, we saw Mrs. J - and Mr. Meredith - We have but now returned and I leaving Sam and Spencer to entertain each other am scribbling to my dear wife an hurried scrawl - because I know she wants to hear from an unworthy man whose greatest pride is to call himself her husband -

You see that (thanks to the alteration I mentioned - it was impossible to reach Dundaff tonight, it may be so, too, tonight, for Sam, says the stage does not go over until Saturday afternoon -

Do excuse this wretched scrawl and believe me, my precious wife, with a thousand loves to our little boy and the same number of kisses - Your affectionate and devoted husband

Chas.